Japan announces fresh support to WFP in Yemen

SANA’A – Today the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a contribution of US$16 million from the Government of Japan, which provides a significant boost to WFP operations aimed at averting famine in Yemen.

“WFP is extremely grateful to the government and people of Japan for the generous support that enables WFP and its partners to provide life-saving assistance to the people of Yemen. These funds come amid unprecedented and unacceptable levels of hunger that have swept over Yemen following three years of conflict,” said WFP Yemen Country Director Stephen Anderson. “Japan’s contribution to WFP, together with support from other donors, helps to ensure the humanitarian situation does not destabilize further while giving millions of Yemenis hope for peace and a better future.”

In Yemen, nearly 18 million people – more than 60 percent of the population – do not know where their next meal is coming from. Tragically, the number of people facing chronic hunger has gone up, increasing by one million between March 2017 and January 2018 alone. Even more jarring, the number of very hungry people who rely entirely on external food assistance has increased by more than 1.6 million people during the same period, reaching 8.4 million people in January 2018.

As famine-like conditions persist, the recent spikes of violence and insecurity in Sana’a, Hodeidah and other parts of the country may further increase the number of extremely hungry people in the country.

There has also been a recent wave of displacement, with 84,000 people reported to have been forced from their homes due to escalated fighting at the end of 2017. WFP is closely monitoring the situation and responding by assisting thousands of displaced people in Hodeidah governorate.

“We are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Yemen,” commented the Embassy of Japan to Yemen. “Japan and its people are determined to continue our efforts to alleviate people's suffering in the country and food security is one of the main pillars we focus on.”

As part of its response to those in dire need of assistance, WFP provides vouchers that are redeemable for food to people in urban areas while food distributions are carried out for those residing in rural areas.

WFP aims to provide food assistance to around 7.5 million people across the country each month. WFP will continue to adjust and augment its operation to support the most pressing food needs in the country, and the organization requires US$353 million to sustain life-saving support through June 2018.

# # #

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in 80 countries.